Steel boiler



Oct; 18-, 1932. w. Fl. CLIFF STEEL BOILER Filed Oct. 26, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,7 N? WW], 0 A C w NW Q N\ QM M F Q Q ks Q! N. Q w R mm mm m w \M 3 kw Q wwwww v Na R w? aw n (Q n n NM E Q 0% INVEINTOR. Wz'lhkamH. 01

J A TTORNEY5 Oct. 18, 1932. w. H. CLIFF swarm BOILER Filed Oct. 26, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR William Hfl/zff a www ATTORNEYJ W. H. CLIFF STEEL BOILER Filed Oct. 26, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 6 m. n 00W. N 1 w 1& Q

an Mk INVENTOR. William II. 01177,

LflVV ATTORNEYJ cial standpoint, of forming the sections in Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES. P

ur OFFICE WI IJIZIAM HARRY'CLIFF, OF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO-TERRE HAUTE BOILER WORKS COMPANY, OF TERRE- HAUTE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION" 01- v INDIANA STEEL BOIL R.

Application filed- October 26, 1928.- SrialNo. 315,219.

My invention relates to improvements in heating. boilers and particularly to: the. sec

tional type of heating boiler' wherein the boiler is formed of a plurality of sections; ar-

- ranged one behind the other, the. front and rear sections forming end sections through which firepit openings. and clean cut: openings are provided, as well as smoke fines, etc., and the intermediate sections when assembled are provided with an arch havingwater legs extending downwardly on each side and forming the fire pot.

Heretofore such boilers have always been.

constructed of cast iron due primarily to the impracticability, especially from a commerany other manner than that of casting.

It is one object of my invention to construct a boiler of the sectional type from steel, preferably sheet steel. The boiler is constructed in such a manner that the vari-;

ous sections may be drawn or pressed from plate or sheet steel of suitable thickness. I

have found from experiment that these boilers may be readily and comparatively cheap 1y made and that they are superior to the cast iron. sectional boiler. One objection heretofore present in the cast iron boiler is that the sections being formed of cast iron are quite liable tocrack, either in. placing the sections in position or after they have been positioned. Furthermore, cast iron as compared to steel has relatively small tensile strength and as a result cast iron heat ing boilers necessarily carry extremely low steam pressure. WVhile it is not essential for heating purposes in all cases that relatively high pressures lee-carried, it has been found that under certain circumstances compara tivel'y high pressures are desirable. I have also found from experimentthat the boiler of my invention has agvery high. efficiency from a steaming standpoint and is capable of generating steam with a minimum fuel con- -sumption and in an extremely short time after the initial firing. Obviously, the walls of; a boiler formed of sheet steel may be of materially less thickness than the walls of cast iron boilers and it is partially to this thin wall that I attribute the rapid and efficient steaming qualities.

It is another object of my invention to provide a sectional boiler of such a structure that it shall consume a minimum quantity of fuel and have a high efliciency from a steaming section and Fig. 7 a transverse enlarged-sec tional view of an intermediate section.

In the'embodiment of the invention illustrated, the boiler comprises the front sec tion 1, the rear-section 2 and-intermediate sections 3 which'may be provided in any number depending upon the size of the boiler desired. The front section is formed .1101- low toprovide the necessary Water space as is usual in sectional boilers and has a smoke flue opening 4, firing door opening 5 and ashpit opening 6. This section is formed of two plates, the front plate 7 and rear plate 8. The outer edges of these plates 7 are turned inwardly to provide inwardly eX- tendingflanges 9 and 10 which, when the two plates are placed adjacent one another, abut. Similar flanges 11 are turned in around the cleanout opening 4, and 12 around the firing opening 5, and 13 around the ashpit opening 6.' Theabutting'fianges are secured together in any suitable manner along the abutting line, and I have found.

that the'most satisfactory manner of connecting the flanges together is by welding the same. After the abutting flanges have been welded together the two plates form a complete front boiler section integral to all intents and purposes as the weld along the line of joint is such that the metal is fused. This section at its top is provided with a nipple opening 14 by which it may be connected to a suitable supply line and with a nipple opening through which a suitable nipple connection is made with the next succeeding section. This connection will be described more fully in detail hereinafter.

By drawing the flanges 9 and 10 and 11, 12 and 13 on the back and front sheets, the sheets are not only spaced apart to form a hollow section when they are connected together, but are also braced thoroughly against buckling. Vith such a -wideexpansion of flat surface, unless these plates were braced in some manner there would be a tendency for them to buckle or bulge under the pressure developed inside and by the flanged arrangement thefaces of the plates are sufficiently braced and strengthened to insure against buckling.

It will be noted that the asap t opening is formed substantially in the form of an arch, thereby providing on each side of'the' opening a pair of water legs 16 provided on their front faces with cold water inlet openings 17 and on their rear f ces with connection nipple openings 18. These openings are provided with connecting nipples connecting the legs of the front section to the legs of the next adjacent-section and these nipples are constructed in exactly the same manner as those used for connecting the top of the sections together.

The back section 2 is also constructed of a pair of front and back plates 19 and 20 having formed thereon at their outer pcriphery inturned flanges 21 and 22 n a manner similar tothefront section. This back section-is provided with a smoke flue opening 23 and with a bottom draft opening 24 leading to the ashpit. Each plate around the smoke flue opening is provided with an in turned flange 25. These flanges are not quite as deep as the flanges 21 and 22 and are connected together by suitable tubular sections 26 which telescope the openings and fit ti ghtly within the flanges 25. After having been placed in position the tubes are welded to the flanges tomake a tight joint at this point. It will be understood of course, that the flanges 21 and 22 as well as the flanges 27 around the ashpitopening 24 are welded togetherat their abutting points in the same manner as has been described with respect to thefront section. The front plate 19, at a point intermediate of its top and bottom is also provided with a flue recess 28 which is preferably formed by providing an opening in the face of the plate 19, which opening is surrounded by an inturned flange 29 and telescoping this opening is a dish-shaped filler 30 which is welded as at 31 to the flange 29.

The object of this recess will appear more fully hereinafter. The rear wall of this plate all been made, may be suitably closed by a threaded plug. Likewise, the bottom legs are provided with nipple openings 35 for connection with the legs of the intermediate sections and with outlet openings 36 for connection to the Water supply for the boiler in the event it is desired to make connection at the rear of the boiler instead of the front. Each. intermediate section comprises a front and back plate 37 and 38 respectively. Each plate is provided with flue'openings39 and with a fire'pot arch opening 40. It-will be noted that this arch opening is curved at its upper portion as at 41 which curve meets the substantially straight sides 42, which in turn merge in an inwardly extending curve as at- 43 to provide the increased width as at 44, thereby providing a tire arch opening having, when the section is completed,.d0wnwardly extending water legs on eachside of the fire arch, which water legs are enlarged at their bottom. This fire arch opening is provided with a peripheral flange 45, it being understood that the front and back plates are constructed in exactly the same manner, and each-of the fire tube openings 39 is surrounded by an inturned flange 46, the flanges 46 being slightly less in depth than the flange 45. .The flanges of the, fire arch opening of each plate are connected together by a band 47 which telescopes the flanges and is welded thereto. 'This flange extends to the bottom of the leg and terminates at the point 48. vAn outer band 49 connects the inturned outer flanges 50 of the two plates 37 and 38, being welded to the inturned peripheral-flange 50 of each plate and this band extends to the bottom, meeting the fire arch band at the point 48. At the unction point reinforcing rib 51 is welded in position. It is thus seen that a hollow section, greater in width than the front'and rear sections is provided. The fire tubes are preferably formed of tubular members 52 which telescope the flanges 46 of the fire tube openings and are suitably welded at their junction to the flanges. i

' Each of the front and rear plates in the water legs is provided with nipple openings 53 at both front and rear and each of the seam frontand rear pl t at. that part orming the steam domeis prorided with. nipple open.- ing v I 1 Suitableside braces 55,. 56, 57 and 5.8 pref-l erably-formed of angle or-bar irons extending longitudinally of the sides of; the section are welded in position and serve as additiona1 bracing for thesect-ions; The braces .-57'-- and 58, it will. be noted, are arranged in the Water legson each side of: thefire pot and are disposed substantiallyoppositeithe top andbottom of the straight portion 42. of the legs, thereby consider-ably narrowing the spac -betweenthelcgsandangles. The purpose of this will appear more fully hereinft r- Gnate lugs 59 for supporting the grates are securedion, the inner face of the, fire arch adjacent the lower ends of the water legs.

The sections are assembled, one behindthe other, and.the.-sections.are connected together by suitable nipples. .E'a-ch'of these nipples comprises, a tubularwmember 60 which eX-. tendsthrough the nippleopening-and is provided with, an annular flange 61 bearing against the inner wallofthe opening. The member-extends .throughthe wall of the next adjacent section and between the, two sections there is placedsasuitable washer 62. Adjacentthe wallofithe next'succeeding-section is; an internally'threaded nut 63 which screw. threadson the tubular; member 60 and by drawing thisnut up tightly the sections are secured together. These, nippleconnectionsare .made at the top and ineach of the water legs so thatjthe' sections will all be connectedtogether atthe-bottoms ofrthe water legs for the circulationtherethrough of the coolwater, andatthe top vofthe steam dome for the passage therethrough of the steam generated. r

It will be understood'aof'course, that suitable; openings are provided at desired places.

for. the, securing in position of gages and the like. 7 7

When the sectionsareassembled the smoke flue-opening 4 of the front section overlaps the top and bottom row of flue openings 39 of the intermediate sections and the flue recess" 28, ofthe back section-overlaps the fire pot arch, and the bottom flue openings of the intermediate sectionsfwhile the smoke flue opening 23 coincides with the top row of the flue-openings-39. Therefore the smoke and heat travelfrom the fire pot rearwardly up through the flue recess 28, thence forwardly through the bottom flue openings 39, upwardly through the-flue opening 4 of, the front section and thenrearwardly through the top row. offl-ue openings and goutthrough the flue. openings 23 0f. the rear section.

I haye. found thatdueto the narrowing of the space the'watenleg s .of the. sections bymeans ofthe anglesor bars 57, and 58, and ue o henar QW g-fi thewa en egs at th point,,yery rapidsteaming is effected The colder water lies in theenlarged bottom portions ofthe water legs. The heat from. the

:fire rapidly heatstheside walls of the fire arch as well as the-top dome thereof and a rapid acceleration of the upward movement of thewater-in thewater legs rcsllltsfrom the narrowing of. these legs by the braces57 and 58. This accelerated movement of the water and spreading of the same into. a compar atively thin film adds materially to the rapid ity with which the water is heated. The accelerated movement of the .water over the firepot wall wipes oif the dea-d film of water lying against this wall so. that the thermo resistance is reduced to the minimum. 7 i

It will be noted that the side braces. 55, '56, 57 and 58extendlongitudinally of the section, well inclined fromthe horizontal and their ends are spacedapart from the ends of the section. The angle braces on each side of the boiler areinclined in the same direction. As a result of this inclination orsloping of these braceswhen' the boiler is generating steam a circulatingmovenient of the water isimparted, the water tending to-fiow up; wardly along the upwardinclination ofthe braces to the steam dome, whence the steam escapes therefrom and the water havinga tendency to flow downwardly at the opposite end of the boiler section. This increases the heat exchange through. the boiler shell, causes quicker release of the steamand results in a. more nearly constant waterline, both under maximum and minimum steam demands and gives a dryer steamthan has heretofore been accomplished. As a result of this incli nation ofthe braces which constitute bafiles rection is imparted to thelwaterwhen the boiler is in operation.

I claim as my invention: 1 I

1. A sheet metal. sectional boiler comprising a plurality of sectionsincluding an inter mediate section comprising front and back sheets, each sheet having its lower portion 'cutout to form afire arch opening andha.v-

1ng OPGIHIIgS-ID its upper portion to form flue openings, the edgesof the sheets being inturned to form peripheral flanges facing one, another, the edges of the material surrounding said fire arch opening being in turned to form. peripheral flanges, tubular flues interposed between the front andbaclr sections connected thereto and surrounding said flue openings, a connectingmember extending between the edgeflanges and second connecting member connecting the edge flanges of the fire arch opening wherebya hollow section is formed provided with suitable flue openings extending therethrough and having-a fire arch opening enclosed on each side'by water legs.

2. A sheet; steel sectional boiler. comprising a plurality of sections including an -in termediate section comprising front and back sheets, each sheet having its lower portlon cut out toform a fire arch opening and having openings in its upper portion to formflue openings, theedges of the material 'surrounding said openings being inturned to form peripheral flanges, tubular flues interposed between the front and back sections and connecting theflanges surrounding the flue openings, a connecting member extending between the edge flanges and a second connecting member connecting the edge flanges of the fire'arch opening, whereby a hollow section is formed provided with suitable flue openings extending therethrough and having a fire'ar-ch opening enclosed on each sideby water legs.

3. A sheet steel sectional boiler comprising a plurality of sections adapted for side by side arrangement and including an intermediate section comprising a front and back sheet, each sheet having a'plurality of openings extending therethrough near'its top to provide flue openings and having an arched opening at its bottom, said opening being so shaped as to form legs comparatively narrow intermediate of the top and bottom and widening at the bottom, the edges of said sheet and the edges surrounding said openings being turned at an angle -to-the sheets to form peripheral flanges, flue tubes extend ing between the front and back sheet and connecting the flanges surrounding the flue tube openings, an outer band connecting the outer peripheral flanges, an inner connecting member connecting said flre arch opening flanges, whereby a hollow section is formed having a steam dome extending downwardly on either sideof a fire arch in the form vof water legs relatively narrow in cross section at the sides of the fire arch and increasing in width at the bottom.

4. Ari-intermediate section for sectional boilers having a steam dome and a firepot arch and water legs extending downwardly on each side of said arch, said legs being smaller in area on each side of the arch and tion and braces welded to the inner faces of the sides and extending longitudinally of the section. I i p 6. 'A'sheet steel'boiler section comprising front and back sheets each having its edges turned at an angle thereto to form a peripheral' flange, the flanges of the two sheets facing one another and an intermediate'con- I A hollow boiler section necting band connecting sai'd flanges, the flanges and band forming theftop, bottom and sides of the section, and a plurality of braces secured to the inner faces of the sides and extending longitudinally of the section.

7 A sheet steel boiler section comprising front and back sheets, each sheet having its lower portion cut out to form a fire arch opening having extending downwardly on each side water legs, the edges of each sheet being turned at an angle thereto to form a peripheral flange, the flanges of the two sheets facing one another and connecting members connecting said edges and secured thereto, said flanges andconnecting members forming the sides and top of the section and the inner sides and top of the arch and braces secured to the inner faces of the sides of the sections in the water legs and extending longitudinally of the section.

having a steam dome and firepot arch and water legs extending downwardly on each side of said arch, and bafile members in said legs opposite the sides of the fire arch extending longitudinally of the section and inclined'from the horizontal, said baflie members being spaced apart from the front and rear of the section.

9. A sheet steel boiler section comprising a front and back section, each sheet having its edgesturnedat an angle thereto to form a peripheral flange, the flanges of the two sheets forming sides, bottom and top of the section and braces secured to the inner faces of the sides extending longitudinally of the section and being inclined from the horizontal, said braces being spaced from the front and back plates of the section.

10. A sheet steel boiler section comprising front and back'sheets, each sheet having its edges turned at an angle thereto to form a peripheral flange, the flanges of the two sheets facing one another, and an intermediate connecting band connecting said flanges, the flanges and band forming the top, bottom and sides of the sections and a plurality of braces secured to the inner faces of the sides, extending longitudinally of the section and inclinedfrom the horizontal, said braces being spaced apart from the ends of'the section.

11. A sheet steel sectional boiler comprising a plurality of sections including an intermediate section comprising back and front sheets, each sheet having its lower portion cut out to form a flre arch opening, and having openings in its upper portion to form flue openings, the edges of the sheets-being inturned to form peripheral flanges facing one another, the edges of said material surrounding flanges'facingone another, the edges of said material surrounding" said fire arch opening and flue openings being inturnedto form peripheral flanges, tubular flues interposed between the front and back sectionsfland overlappingthe flanges of the 

